EMS team under fire for treating man with antivenom after he was bitten by a mamba snake

[mahatmakanejeeves]

EMS team under fire for treating man with antivenom after he was bitten by a mamba snake

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[The director of] the Kentucky Reptile Zoo was bitten by a highly venomous Jameson’s Mamba while on the job in May. (SOURCE: WKYT)

By Alyssa Williams and Andrew McMunn
Published: Sep. 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM EDT | Updated: 14 hours ago

POWELL COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – An EMS team in Kentucky is in hot water after they treated a man who had been bitten by a mamba snake with antivenom. … James Harrison, the director of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, was bitten by a highly venomous Jameson’s mamba while on the job in May. … Harrison got the antivenom he needed to live at the zoo, but he spent days recovering in the ICU. … The first responders who helped administer the antivenom are now in trouble.

Powell County Judge-Executive Eddie Barnes said he and another EMS worker were called to help Harrison after he was bitten. … “I’ll be honest with you, I think it’s ridiculous,” Barnes said. … Barnes said they first received directions from Harrison on what to do. … “The victim had told us that we needed to administer the antivenom as soon as possible, and if not, the first stage is paralysis, the second stage is respiratory arrest, the third stage is cardiac arrest, then he said, ‘I’m going to die,’” Barnes said.

Barnes said they were unable to reach their EMS director, but they did speak with medical staff at Clark Regional Medical Center. … While they were waiting for a helicopter to take Harrison to a UK hospital, they gave him the antivenom. … The decision is one that Harrison’s wife, Kristen Wiley, is thankful for. … “Every physician that we’ve talked to about it, and about the course of the bite, agrees that they were heroes and did what needed to be done to save him. That’s who I want working on me in an emergency,” Wiley said.

The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, or KBEMS, may think otherwise. … Barnes said he later learned KBEMS’ policy changed two years ago, and that only wilderness paramedics can administer antivenom now.

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[Norrrm]

1. What part of the word "Emergency" is in doubt?

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Good Grief! They're in trouble because they didn't let him die?!

Isn't it their job to SAVE LIVES?!

[wolfie001]

3. I grew up with the old adage, "Rules were made to be broken"

Very appropriate here. Kudos to the EMS staffers!

[EYESORE 9001]

4. I'm guessing the vial of antivenin was on the premises

Was any other employee on site authorized to administer the antivenin? Sounds like the KY board is being deliberately obtuse and rule-bound.

[dlk]

5. When savings lives is a problem, the policy needs to be revisited

The goal of this policy is what, actually?

[JMCKUSICK]

6. My ex wife was a EMT-P at Amcare in OKC, Ok

Back on March 8, 1989, my ex-wife responded to a call for firefighters down.

" Lindsey died at the scene, Ayers died 26 hours later, and Zellner survived 27 days before succumbing to his burns."
This is a paragraph from the Oklahoman well into the article.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1991/04/19/report-details-firemens-deaths-gear-gases-heat-blamed-in-fatal-1989-fire/62530636007/
My ex-wife treated firefighter Zellner. The official protocol back then was load and go, don't do anything invasive, (imagine you were the victim).
She started two large bore IV's and got him prepped to be treated in the burn unit and every doctor spoken to said the only reason he survived that long was because of the actions she took
Amcare tried to fire her because she violated those protocols. It wasn't until doctors from all around stood up for what she did, that they finally stopped.
She was diagnosed with PTSD shortly afterwards and our marriage didn't last two more years.
Please fight for what's right! Get experts to speak loudly for you and please please please push to update these outdated protocols.
I wish you the very best because this part is hell. I'll attest to that.

[niyad]

13. That was such a horrific scenario. I am so very sorry.

[JMCKUSICK]

16. Thank you, she passed a few years ago,

But it affected her to her dying day.

[wordstroken]

17. I am so sorry that you and your deceased ex-wife suffered so much from that experience.

Not to mention the other victims.
Life’s experiences can be extremely devastating and last for so long, but your strength always shows through, John.
💕❤️

🦋 wordstroken

[LoisB]

7. Bizarro World

[MayReasonRule]

8. I Have A Friend That Worked For An Antivenon Researcher Within A Hospital In San Antonio

He accidentally bumped the wire mesh top of a baby rattlesnake enclosure and got bitten.

Even though he worked for the researcher, the hospital itself refused to administer the anti-venom for hours due to his uninsured status.

As a result he had to have major surgery on his right arm which is horribly scarred and was severely damaged.

I asked him why he didn't attempt to sue and he responded that it was a charity hospital and he didn't want to pursue action against them.

They extended him no charity goddamned mother fucking assholes!
I can't imagine not suing.

[AZLD4Candidate]

9. No good deed goes unpunished.

[rpannier]

21. How true

[rubbersole]

10. It would be interesting to know why the rule was initially put in place.

I think they're heroes for saving him. Heroes can get sued as easily as anyone. Like any public service or business anymore, if you don't follow the insurance guidelines, you won't get coverage. (Insurance companies are running the country. It's going to get insane in the health insurance market shortly.)

[harumph]

11. Pretty sure they'll be cleared. Rules are in place to keep people from practicing outside their authorized "skills set."

This was an extraordinary situation. Relatedly, there have been a number of good-Samaritan laws passed in various that
shield passersby from liability when assisting accident victims. Cause life is messy.

[niyad]

12. WTAF!!! I had to read the headline three times, convinced that my lack of

caffeine was making me see things incorrectly.

May all involved receive everything they deserve.

[niyad]

14. There is no explanation from KBEMS as to the reason for that change

in policy.

[Texin]

15. There is no injured party here in this mess except for the paramedics who did their jobs and saved

this man's life or else he would have died.

[wordstroken]

18. As a long-time Registered Nurse, I've seen appallingly situations, but this policy is absurd and disheartening.

So Wrong


🦋 wordstroken

[tazcat]

19. What's wrong with these people???

[Ziggysmom]

20. Back when I was a new grad nurse, I worked with a wise old RN who told me it was

better to ask for forgiveness than permission when dealing with emergency situations. She was a former Army nurse and oh boy, the stories she could tell!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

22. Jameson's Mamba Bite Story!

Jameson's Mamba Bite Story!
2.2K views · 3 months ago...more

kyreptilezoo
409K

[mahatmakanejeeves]

23. Black mamba venom has a deadly hidden second strike

Black mamba venom has a deadly hidden second strike

Date: September 30, 2025

Source: University of Queensland

Summary:
Scientists have uncovered a dangerous hidden feature in Black Mamba venom that explains why antivenoms sometimes fail. The study revealed that several mamba species launch a dual neurological attack, first causing limp paralysis and then unleashing painful spasms once treatment begins.

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